If you use a certain iPhone charging cable, you need to return it and ask for a refund ASAP

While it's generally a good idea to buy all your iPhone or iPad accessories directly from Apple, major retailers like Target also sell plenty of MFi (Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad)-certified stuff at very competitive prices that should be safe to use, theoretically meeting Cupertino's standards and strict quality requirements.

Unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen and things that are supposed to work flawlessly performing the simplest tasks... fail to do so. Case in point, a specific Lightning to USB cable that Target charged around $15 for, undercutting Apple's official ...